CAMBRIDGE, U.K.—Expedeon Ltd. and Protein
Discovery Inc.
will merge to provide both the "razor and blades" of advanced products for
protein research. The new company, bearing the Expedeon
name, intends to be a
global supplier of protein analysis and purification products used by thousands
of scientists worldwide.

Prior to the merger, Protein Discovery was a privately held
life sciences company that develops and commercializes
specialized sample
preparation products for protein analysis by mass spectrometry. Its customer
base includes academic, government and pharmaceutical
scientists involved in
protein research and biotherapeutic development.

Founded in 2001, Protein Discovery has developed a suite of
products
that address key challenges in protein analysis. The company's
flagship product, the GELFREE 8100 Fractionation System, is said to be the
first
instrument that partitions complex protein mixtures into user-selectable,
liquid-phase molecular weight fractions. The apparatus can purify up to eight
samples simultaneously. Unlike other electrophoresis-based systems, the unit
produces a soluble fraction for analysis by mass spectrometry. The
technology
allows researchers to look at the whole protein, not fragments, to pick up
small changes and differences. The system has achieved rapid
market adoption
and was recently highlighted in a publication in Nature.

Expedeon, also privately held, provides tools and reagents
for protein discovery and analysis, enabling
advances in protein research and
drug development.

Dr. Heikki Lanckriet, founder and CEO of
Expedeon, will also
be CEO of the new Expedeon. Prior to the merger, Expedeon was already gaining
market share rapidly, he states, with double-digit
annual grow as a provider of
simple, rapid and effective solutions for protein-based research and
production. The company's patented products include
solutions for protein
separation, quantitation, visualization, purification, protection and
refolding. The products include RunBlue electrophoresis
precast gels,
InstantBlue protein stain and Nvoy protein stabilization products, which are
used to enhance protein stability and solubility.
Applications include soluble expression of aggregation prone protein such as
membrane proteins, protein refolding, protein concentration and
purification,
crystallisation, NMR and mass spectrometry.

Expedeon sells both
directly to and
through an extensive partner network around the world. With the
addition of Protein Discovery, Lanckriet views the new Expedeon as commanding
"gateway
technology" to energize future growth.

The group will remain headquartered in Cambridge, and Chuck
Witkowski, founder and CEO of Protein Discovery, will join Expedeon's board of
directors. Lanckriet notes that U.S. manufacturing operations will
likely be
consolidated at Expedeon's existing San Diego facility.

"This transaction represents
an important step towards our
strategic goal of becoming a premier, global provider of innovative product
solutions for protein analysis," says
Lanckriet. "Protein Discovery's talented
team has built a business with highly innovative products that are considered
best-in-class in their
respective product segments. Combined with Expedeon's
industry-leading products and extensive market channels, Expedeon will offer
even greater value
to scientists engaged in protein analysis."

Witkowski adds, "By combining our businesses, we have an
opportunity to create
substantial value for our customers, shareholders and
other key stakeholders as we extend our innovative solutions to customers
around the world."